Apparatus for Storing and/or Transporting Parts

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for storing and/or for transporting, in particular, flat parts, including a storage device, which has a floor or floor sections, and a dividing structure, through which individual compartments lying alongside each other can be formed inside of the storage device where the floor or floor sections can be adjusted in height relative to the dividing structure and, for this purpose, the dividing structure has preferably delimiting elements between individual compartments of the storage device, where openings are configured in the delimiting elements and a lifting device is, for instance, provided for raising and/or lowering the floor, so that the parts between the delimiting elements are raised or lowered.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an apparatus for storing and/or transporting flat parts in particular.

BACKGROUND

In order to store flat parts, in particular cut sheet metal or other flat stamped or molded parts, pallets with a plurality of juxtaposed compartments are known, into which the flat parts can be loaded. The flat parts may in particular be rectangular plates, for example with dimensions of 100 mm×300 mm. The plurality of compartments means that many small parts of this type can be juxtaposed and stored in exact positions on a pallet with small positional tolerances in individual stacks which are safe to transport. For further processing or, for example, for storage in a store room, the parts are removed from the pallet or the individual compartments by means of a gripper system. It is also possible to envisage different geometries of the parts forming a set on a single pallet.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The disclosure provides an apparatus for storing flat parts in particular with which as short a cycle time as possible for loading and/or unloading the parts can be obtained.

The apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises a storage device with a floor or floor sections and a partitioning structure or partitioning device by means of which individual juxtaposed compartments are formed within the storage device. In accordance with the invention, the floor or the floor sections is or are adjustable in height relative to the partitioning structure.

Because the floor or the floor sections and/or the partitioning structure is/are adjustable in height, the loading depth of the apparatus or the individual compartments can be varied in a flexible manner. This means that, in order to remove the parts, the floor of the apparatus can be moved upwards and/or the partitioning structure can be moved downwards so that a picking unit, for example a gripper unit, does not have to be moved into or in any case does not have to be moved as far into the depth of the compartments or pockets. In this manner, the parts can be dropped or picked up from further up, for example at or near the upper edge of the partitioning structure, which allows the cycle time when loading or picking the parts to be substantially reduced. When loading the parts into the compartments, a batch of parts or individual parts can be put down on, over or near the upper edge of the apparatus (onto the floor which has been moved upwards and/or on the floor at the upper edge of the partitioning structure which has been moved downwards) and the floor can then be lowered (or the partitioning structure can be raised) so that the parts are moved into the compartments. Picking can correspondingly be carried out in batches or individually. The partitioning structure may form a guide device to guide the individual parts during loading and/or picking. In particular, it can provide a positionally accurate repository for the parts in the storage device or cassette.

Thus, it can be seen that the underlying principle of the invention, in particular with a box-like device or a container partitioned into interior compartments, is to provide a floor or partitioning structure which is adjustable in height, by means of which the loading depth of the individual compartments, which in particular are accessible from the top, can be varied. In particular, the storage device may also be described as a storage vessel, storage container, compartment vessel or cassette part.

In a preferred embodiment, the floor has at least one slot or an aperture through which the partitioning structure or the partitioning device protrudes. By means of the slot or aperture in the floor, the disposition and form of which appropriately corresponds to the cross-section of the partitioning structure, the floor is decoupled from the partitioning structure so that the floor or the floor sections and/or the partitioning structure can be moved independently of each other.

Preferably, the partitioning structure or compartment partitioning comprises delimiting elements between individual compartments of the storage device. The delimiting elements may in principle be configured in any manner and, for example, have webs, pins, walls and/or the like. In this regard, preferably, openings or apertures are formed in the delimiting elements. This means that a continuous or unitary floor may be provided which extends over several or even all of the compartments. The floor therefore extends through an opening from a first compartment to a second compartment. In addition, if necessary, the openings in the delimiting elements allow for access from the side into the individual compartments, for example in the case of failure of the picking apparatus or tilting of a part or sheet in one of the compartments.

In accordance with one embodiment, the floor which can be raised or the partitioning structure which can be lowered extends over individual, over several or over all of the compartments of the storage device, and thus the floor sections of the individual compartments or the corresponding sections of the partitioning structure can be raised or lowered individually, in groups or all together. In accordance with a variation, the floor sections of the individual compartments (or the corresponding sections of the partitioning structure) are formed by a single common floor, or the floor extending over the individual compartments or the partitioning structure is formed as one piece.

In a further embodiment, the floor has at least two floor sections which are independently adjustable in height. This provides greater flexibility, but if necessary a more complex lifting device to raise and/or lower the floor or the floor section or the partitioning structure.

It is also possible for the storage device to have outer delimiting walls in which openings or apertures are formed. As an example, the outer delimiting walls may be configured as individual webs. The openings in the peripheral walls allow for access into the compartments from the side, for example in the event of failure of the picking apparatus, and also for a visual check of loading and/or picking of the individual parts.

For the purposes of simplification in describing the invention, a movable floor or floor section will be described below, but in doing so, embodiments with movable partitioning structures or parts thereof which can be moved relative to the floor are also encompassed therein.

In accordance with a further variation of the invention, a lifting device—particularly motorized—is provided to raise and/or lower the floor or the partitioning structure or parts thereof (floor/partitioning structure). The lifting device may have at least one vertically extending lifting element, for example a lifting jack and/or a lifting spindle, to raise and/or lower the floor or the floor section. Preferably, the lifting device is configured as a device which is separate from the storage device and which can optionally be installed under or on the storage device and can be removed from the storage device. In this manner, a lifting device may also be used for selectively actuating a plurality of storage devices if they are disposed adjacent to each other or under or on several storage devices at the same time. Preferably, the at least one lifting element of the lifting device has a coupling surface which can be moved from below against the floor or laterally onto the floor or the floor sections. The lifting element may preferably in addition be moved in a lateral direction relative to the storage device or may be removed from the storage device. As an example, a track system may be used for this purpose.

In accordance with a variation of the invention, the lifting device is mobile and can be taken from one storage device to the next, for example an automatically controlled forklift, so that the lifting device can gain access to the floor or the floor sections with the aid of coupling surfaces or coupling elements and can drive it upwards or downwards within the partitioning structure. For this purpose, for example, the floor may be connected to a coupling frame, for example, which protrudes outwards beyond the periphery of the partitioning structure and can therefore be coupled with the lifting device.

In a further aspect, the lifting device may have at least one horizontally and/or vertically displaceable lifting element in order to be able to select different floor sections to be lifted. In this manner, the floor sections can be separately actuated without requiring a dedicated lifting device. Here again, individual floor sections can be controlled via one or more coupling frames (i.e. a kind of frame transmission) using one and the same lifting element, so that the lifting element always only moves the floor section or sections required at the time via the frame structure or frame transmission.

The lifting device which, for example, may be driven hydraulically and/or electrically, enables the floor to be moved independently of loading of the storage device. In order to ensure a uniform lifting movement of the floor and to prevent tilting, a plurality of lifting elements may be provided which engage the floor at different positions. Preferably, in order to adapt the loading depth in a variable manner, the height of the floor is steplessly variable, or it can be raised or lowered in a stepless manner.

The storage device may be used in a particularly flexible manner when, particularly below the lifting floor, it has a fixed floor element which forms a base for placement on a support surface, and the floor element has at least one opening for at least one lifting element to gain access in order to raise the floor. Preferably, the partitioning structure or the floor (if the partitioning structure is moved) is fixed to the fixed floor element, which may be configured as a floor plate or a grid-like floor element. Providing the floor element with one or more openings allows an external lifting system to be used with at least one lifting element that can gain access through the opening of the floor element in order to move the lifting floor. The storage device may be disposed above or near to the separate lifting device and may be raised or removed therefrom as required.

To increase the stability and/or to transport the storage device, a base or transport rack, in particular a separate base or transport rack, may be provided. The transport rack acts to accommodate or support the storage device as well as to transport it and may be releasably connectable with the storage device. The base or transport rack may also be brought into or out of the store or the like using a normal forklift truck or the like.

The base rack may, for example, be in the shape of a box and have a floor frame and side walls. Preferably, the storage device, which is a separate element, can be placed on and/or in the base rack. The floor frame of the base rack may have a support surface for the storage device.

Holes for one or more lifting elements to gain access may be formed in the floor frame. The base rack, which in particular is grid-like, may comprise feet. Below the floor frame, a compartment may be formed in which to dispose a lifting device for raising and/or lowering the floor. The base rack may also be described as a transport box or base pallet.

In order to transport the device, the base or transport rack preferably has at least one lateral access region for a lifting part of a lifting and transport device, for example a forklift. This allows the storage device stored in and/or on the base rack to be transported.

In principle, the invention also concerns a method for loading flat parts in particular into a storage device, which has a partitioning structure, by means of which individual, juxtaposed compartments are formed within the storage device, wherein the parts are placed on a floor of the storage device and then the floor and the partitioning structure are moved relative to each other, i.e. lowered or raised, for example.

Furthermore, the invention also in principle concerns a method for removing flat parts in particular from a storage device which has a partitioning structure, by means of which individual juxtaposed compartments are formed within the storage device, wherein the floor is raised relative to the partitioning structure, for example, and then the parts are lifted from the floor of the storage device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail below with the aid of exemplary embodiments which are shown diagrammatically in the accompanying figures. In the figures:

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a storage device of a device in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a storage device of a device in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 3 shows a base rack for an apparatus in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In a first aspect, the invention concerns a storage device 12 and an apparatus 10 for storing individual parts, in particular flat parts such as stamped parts. A first embodiment of a storage device is shown in FIG. 1. The storage device 12 comprises a floor 20 on which the parts are placed and a partitioning structure 30 which divides the interior of the storage device 12 into juxtaposed compartments or pockets 32 which can be filled from the top. In this regard, internal delimiting elements 36 are provided which are configured as webs or wall elements in the embodiment shown. The compartments 32, which in particular are cuboid in shape, are open at the top and are delimited at the bottom by the floor 20. Furthermore, the storage device 12 comprises an external delimiting structure which is formed by external delimiting walls 42 (side walls). Below the floor 20 of the compartments 32 is a lower floor element 14 or base element which can be provided for positioning on a substrate. The floor element 14 comprises at least one opening 16 through which the floor 20 can be contacted from below; this can also be described as a floor plate, perforated plate or base plate. Preferably, a plurality of openings 16 are distributed over the floor element 14.

The storage device 12, which may also be described as a cassette part, is designed to accommodate flat parts or shaped parts with a small clearance with respect to the delimiting elements 36 (cassette walls). In order to pick them up more quickly and/or to load them more easily, the floor 20 is disposed so that its height can be adjusted within a frame structure of the storage device 12 formed by the delimiting elements 36 and/or delimiting walls 42, as indicated by the arrow 2 in FIG. 1. The floor 20 can be moved between a lower position, in which it is approximately flush with a lower end of the storage device 12, and an upper position essentially at the upper edge of the storage device 12. FIG. 1 shows the floor 20 in a partially raised position. A lifting device 60 (FIG. 3) may be used to displace it; the device can optionally be disposed below or next to the storage device 12. The lifting device may have at least one lifting element 62 which can make contact with the lifting floor 20 from below or laterally through one of the openings 16 in the fixed floor element 14. Slots 24 are formed in the floor 20; their shape preferably matches the base area of the delimiting elements 36 of the grid-like partitioning structure 30. There is preferably a gap between the movable floor 20 and the walls of the storage device 12 which depends on the precision of the lifting system.

Naturally, the above description is also applicable to the opposite case, i.e. where the delimiting elements 36 and/or delimiting walls 42 are disposed on or between the floor 20 or floor sections (21, 22, see FIG. 2) in a height-adjustable manner.

The partitioning structure 30 has a grid-like frame 34 at its upper end which increases the stability but is optional. The delimiting elements 36 and the outer delimiting walls 42 are formed by the individual webs or wall elements which extend between an underside of the storage device 12 and the frame 34. Openings 38 are formed between individual compartments 32 in the delimiting elements 36 of the grid-like partitioning structure 30. The openings 38 extend essentially over the whole maximum loading depth of the compartments 32 or along the entire displacement path of the floor 20. The outer delimiting walls 42 are also provided with openings 44 so that each individual compartment 32 can be accessed from the side. The floor element 14, the outer delimiting walls 42 and the partitioning structure 30 form a fixed, preferably grid-like body. The storage device 12 may essentially be produced from wood. The frame 34 may be formed from metal.

The apertures or openings 38 in the delimiting elements 36 essentially have two functions. Firstly, they allow for there to be an associated lifting plate, or an associated floor 20 so that the floor 20 can be moved with one or only a few jacks or lifting elements 62 of an external lifting device 60. Secondly, loading and/or picking up parts can easily be carried out manually, for example if the lifting system fails, because each compartment 32 is accessible from all sides.

FIG. 2 shows a further storage device with a floor 20 which comprises several separately height-adjustable floor sections 21, 22. The floor sections 21, 22 here may each form the floor region of one or more individual compartments 32. Thus, possibly as a function of the size of the parts to be stacked, a separate floor plate is provided for each stack row or group of stack rows. This means that only one stack row or a group of stack rows in a container can be lowered or lifted simultaneously. The number of separate floor sections 21, 22 to be moved may correspond to the number of compartments 32, so that each compartment 32 can be individually loaded or emptied. Apart from this, the embodiment of FIG. 2 is the same as that of FIG. 1.

The number of jacks or lifting elements 62 advantageously is adapted to the number of lifting floors or floor sections 21, 22 in a manner such that tilting is prevented. To this end (as is also the case for the first embodiment of FIG. 1), a coupling frame may also be used which connects individual or several floor sections 21, 22 with the lifting device 60. In a preferred embodiment, the lifting device 60 may have at least one horizontally and/or vertically displaceable lifting element 62 in order to be able to select different floor sections 21, 22 to be lifted. The lifting element 62 may in this regard be mounted on a track system, for example. In this manner, the floor sections 21, 22 may be actuated separately without a respective dedicated lifting device 60 being required for each one.

The storage device 12 forms an insert to place in a base rack 50 shown in FIG. 3. The storage device 12 then preferably forms an independent unit which can be removably mounted in a base rack 50 so that it can be replaced separately in the event of damage.

The base rack 50 comprises an open floor and closed side walls 58. The open floor is formed by a floor frame 52 in particular in the form of a grid which has a plurality of webs 53 on which the storage device 12 can be placed. Holes 54 are formed between the webs 53 of the floor frame 52, through which an only diagrammatically illustrated lifting element 62 of a lifting device 60 can gain access from below, in order to come into contact with the floor 20 of the storage device 12. At least one access region 56 for a fork of a forklift is formed in a lower side region of the base or transport rack 50.

In order to prevent damage to the cassette-shaped storage device 12, the area of the base rack 50 may be somewhat larger (space between side walls 58 of the base rack 50 and outer delimiting walls 42 of the storage device 12), and it may be greater in height with a protrusion. The preferably closed side walls 58 of the base rack 50 further reinforce the protective function.

The base rack 50 is advantageously designed so as to be stackable. The base rack 50 ensures that during transport of the apparatus 10, no or hardly any external forces can act on the cassette part or on the storage device 12. 

1. An apparatus for storing flat parts, comprising a storage device with a floor or floor sections and a partitioning structure by means of which individual juxtaposed compartments are formed within the storage device, wherein the floor or the floor sections is or are adjustable in height relative to the partitioning structure.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the floor has at least one slot through which the partitioning structure protrudes.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the partitioning structure has delimiting elements between individual compartments of the storage device, and openings are formed in the delimiting elements.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the floor has at least two floor sections which are adjustable in height independently of each other.
 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage device has outer delimiting walls in which openings are formed.
 6. The apparatus as claimed claim 1, wherein a lifting device is provided in order to raise and/or lower the floor.
 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage device has a fixed floor element which forms a base for placement on a support surface, and the floor element has at least one opening to allow a lifting element to gain access in order to raise the floor.
 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a base rack is provided in order to accommodate the storage device.
 9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base rack is in the shape of a box with a floor frame and side walls.
 10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base rack has at least one lateral access region in order to allow a lifting part of a lifting transport device to gain access. 